Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox - It is nearly always the new mom or expectant mothers who ask the question what is chickenpox? This disease is a huge concern among women with young babies Chickenpox is a highly contagious illness like that of measles which we relate to in young children, it is a common condition. Chicken pox causes an itching skin rash with blisters which can be treated with  calamine lotion to help ease the discomfort from scrawbing away at the spots. The disease is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and usually runs its course without problems. It is a viral infection and is easily transferred from one person to another through direct contact with the broken chickenpox blisters and through airborne droplets.

The infectious period lasts about three days, - before the rash actual appears and until all the blisters have formed scabs. Young children do not understand that they can do a lot of harm by scratching, so it is important to keep their fingernails short and monitor the child’s behaviour at all times.

The incubation period between being infected with chickenpox until the disease breaks out and symptoms appear is 10 to 20 days. If you are worried that you are not sure how to tell that your child has chicken pox, fret not because listed below are chicken pox symptoms to look out for if your child is infected. A rash usually appears on the body - face and later often spreads to the scalp and limbs. It can also spread to the mucous membranes especially in the mouth - on and in and around the genitals.

1 The rash is often itchy therefore the importance to keep a watchful eye on the child.
2 Small red spots develop turning into blisters within a couple of hours.

3 Normally within a couple of days, the blisters turn into scabs.
4 Fresh blisters can occur after three to six days.
5 The number of blisters differs greatly from one person to another.
6 The infected patient may run a temperature.
7 These symptoms are mild in young children.
8 Chickenpox lasts 7 to 10 days in children and longer in adults.

As we age chicken pox can leave the older person with a longer recovery period. Adults are more likely to suffer complications than that of an infant. Who is at risk of complications? Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox may suffer more so than that of others. A weak immune system in people can give reason for concern if they catch chicken pox.
Those who are under threat from contracting the varicella-zoster virus can be given an injection of varicella-zoster-immunoglobin to boost their immunity.
Treatments involved for healing chicken pox mostly consists of medication just for easing the symptoms. Bear in mind, that an infected person will be contagious until new blisters have stopped appearing, or until all the blisters have scabs. It is wise to keep your child or yourself away from others till the disease has gone completely because of the infectious qualities may still be present.

1 Avoid scratching the blisters because of the risk of infection.
2 Cut the nails short or make the patient wear gloves.

Always wash after treating your chicken pox or touching the spots and scabs
Calamine lotion, is a common medication used to help relieve itching, and is very good for sunburn too.
Have the patient cool at all times even in the bedroom as heat and sweat may make the itching worse. Remember that bacteria may infect the blisters. Not in all cases but scars may remain at the location of the blisters on the body. In very rare cases, chickenpox can result in complications such as meningitis encephalitis, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) or Reye's syndrome.

It is good that news for the person who at an earlier date may have had chicken pox because they will have immunity to the disease of ever catching it again. However, the virus may return later in life as shingles. Shingles is not a very nice condition and if you suffer from shingles then you can infect others with chickenpox, but cannot give shingles to someone else.